Cambridge scientists say they have, for the first time, tested a vaccine designed by AI.

Cambridge scientists say they have, for the first time, tested a vaccine designed by AI.

Cambridge scientists say they have, for the first time, tested a vaccine designed by AI.

Could the parasite also impact human behaviour? Made in partnership with UKRI.

Each year, World Environment Day offers a moment to reflect on progress and to refocus efforts on the environmental challenges that continue to shape our future. In 2026, the message is clear: ambition alone is no longer enough. The global priority is shifting firmly towards practical, measurable solutions that build resilience and deliver lasting change.

For organisations across the UK, this shift is already underway. Environmental responsibility is no longer a standalone initiative or a compliance exercise; it is increasingly embedded within core business strategy. At the centre of this transformation is a familiar but evolving framework: ISO 14001.

A standard evolving with the times

The revised ISO 14001 standard reflects the changing expectations placed on organisations. Where earlier versions focused on establishing structured environmental management systems, the 2026 update pushes further by encouraging organisations to align environmental performance with broader business goals and global challenges such as climate change.

This evolution matters. It signals that environmental management systems are no longer just about identifying impacts and maintaining controls. They are increasingly focused on understanding environmental risks and opportunities and considering impacts across products, services and supply chains.

Climate change, biodiversity and the availability of natural resources are becoming more prominent considerations, alongside supply chain influence and lifecycle thinking. Together, they reinforce the idea that environmental responsibility extends well beyond an organisation’s immediate operations.

Environmental performance is increasingly connected to organisational governance, risk management and decision-making. It is no longer something that can sit solely with specialist teams; it requires engagement across the organisation.

As explored in UKAS insights on ISO 14001 revisions, these changes represent a broader shift towards management systems that are more integrated with business strategy and better equipped to respond to evolving environmental risks.

From systems to confidence

As expectations grow, so too does the need for confidence that environmental management systems are not only in place but are effective.

This is where accredited certification plays a vital role. UKAS-accredited certification provides independent assurance that an organisation’s environmental management system meets recognised standards and is being applied consistently. In a landscape where environmental claims are increasingly scrutinised, that assurance is critical.

It moves organisations beyond self-declaration and towards something far more valuable: trusted, evidence-based performance. As expectations increase, organisations are expected not only to implement environmental management systems but also to demonstrate that those systems are delivering their intended outcomes.

The economic case for environmental action

What is becoming increasingly clear is that environmental performance and economic performance are not competing priorities. They are closely linked.

Organisations with robust accredited management systems are often better equipped to manage risk, respond to change and operate efficiently. Over time, this translates into tangible benefits, whether through cost savings, improved resilience or enhanced reputation.

This is reflected in UKAS research on the economic value of accredited certification, which highlights how management systems contribute not only to compliance but to wider organisational performance and long-term value.

In this sense, standards like ISO 14001 are not just environmental tools. They are business tools that help organisations navigate complexity while maintaining a clear focus on sustainability.

A moment for meaningful progress

World Environment Day 2026 is ultimately a call to move forward with intent. The frameworks and standards already exist to support meaningful environmental action. The challenge, and the opportunity, lies in how they are used.

ISO 14001, particularly in its updated form, provides a structure for organisations to better understand their impacts, manage environmental risks and opportunities and take informed action. Accreditation ensures that these systems are credible and effective. Together, they create a pathway from commitment to demonstrable impact.

As organisations reflect on their environmental responsibilities this World Environment Day, the focus should not only be on what they aim to achieve but on how they can prove progress along the way.

Because in today’s environment, it is not just action that matters. It is trusted, measurable action that delivers real change.

 

The post World Environment Day 2026: turning environmental commitments into real-world impact appeared first on UKAS.

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There are plans to move some maternity services to the Royal Liverpool - which could affect around 130 high-risk births each year

There are plans to move some maternity services to the Royal Liverpool - which could affect around 130 high-risk births each year

There are plans to move some maternity services to the Royal Liverpool - which could affect around 130 high-risk births each year

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service is proposing to establish a project to develop accreditation for ISO/IEC 17029 Conformity assessment — General principles and requirements for validation and verification bodies of ISO 14019-1:2026 Sustainability information Part 1: General principles and requirements for validation and verification Greenhouse gases — Carbon footprint of products — Requirements and guidelines for quantification.

The ISO 14019 series is a globally recognized framework developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to standardize the validation and verification of sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) data. It ensures that corporate sustainability claims are accurate, transparent, and credible.

From this announcement, UKAS will determine the demand and priority for developing accreditation in this area. Therefore, please could you register your interest in this activity to UKAS via email (developmentenquiries@ukas.com) by 26th June 2026

Organisations that wish to participate are asked to provide the following information:

• Name of organisation
• Confirm whether your interest is in assisting with the development of the assessment/or as a potential pilot project applicant
• Status of any current accreditation
• Current involvement in validation and verification activities in the sustainability sector
• Current activity – are you already working with clients in this area

Organisations that submit an expression of interest will be invited to attend the meeting of interested parties where the terms of the project will be discussed along with a proposed timeline for key stages and any phased approach process that is deemed necessary. Following this meeting, conformity assessment bodies will be required to submit a formal application to UKAS for the scope of accreditation sought and an agreement to the terms and conditions of the pilot programme before their participation is confirmed. There will be an opportunity to ask any scope specific questions on the details of the pilot programme at this stage.

Please note that if a development project was established a pilot programme will be required whereby there would be a development fee associated with participation in addition to the normal assessment fees.

UKAS is currently gauging the potential level of interest in this area so would also like to hear from technical experts that may wish to support UKAS as a stakeholder to provide expertise and support to the development of accreditation criteria and process.

Please note that submitting an expressions of interest does not indicate any commitment to participate in the project on the part of the interested parties, and nor does the acceptance of an expression of interest commit UKAS to accept the interested party on any future pilot project.

The post Notification of Intent to Develop Accreditation for the Validation and Verification of ISO 14019-1:2026 Sustainability information Part 1: General principles and requirements for validation and verification appeared first on UKAS.

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Emma Barnett exposes the devastating reality of endometriosis and its toll on women.

Emma Barnett shares her life-long struggle with endometriosis – a disease affecting one in ten women of reproductive age, which causes excruciating, often debilitating, pain.

Emma Barnett shares her life-long struggle with endometriosis – a disease affecting one in ten women of reproductive age, which causes excruciating, often debilitating, pain.